Man Who Struck Clearwater Police Vehicle Arrested On Multiple Charges

CLEARWATER, FL — On Friday, Clearwater police arrested Dennis Murphy, 57, on multiple charges following the April 22 crash on U.S. 19 involving a Clearwater police vehicle.

Murphy was driving a 2011 Hyundai Sonata when he struck the back of the police vehicle in the northbound lanes of U.S. 19 at Dimmitt Drive around 9:30 p.m.

Police said Murphy failed to move over when the police cruiser was pulled over at a traffic stop, and struck the back of the unoccupied police car, causing it to strike a second police vehicle that was occupied.

According to Clearwater Police, no officers were injured in the crash.

Murphy was transported to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg as a trauma alert.

According to Clearwater Police, blood-test results showed he had multiple drugs in his system at the time of the crash. He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on Friday and charged with possession of heroin, possession of fentanyl and DUI causing property damage/injury. He also received a traffic citation for failing to move over for an emergency vehicle.

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